Assessment of Natural Background Gamma Radiation Levels in Different Areas of Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

Natural background radiation is always there and is the main source of radiation exposure to the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the outdoor natural background gamma radiation level at various sites in Najaf Governorate, Iraq. Twenty-one sites, including various educational, residential, commercial and industrial areas were explored. At each site, measurements of gamma radiation were taken three separate times with a hand-held gamma radiation survey meter; geographical coordinates were obtained through a Garmin GPS device. The ambient dose rates measured at the different sites investigated were relatively small, with an average ambient dose rate between 0.07 and 0.13 μSv h⁻¹. Kimo Factory had the highest average value while Baridi and Sayyid Jaafar Street had the lowest values. The total radiation readings that were made were found to be within the reference levels of the natural background radiation found in many countries and posed no radiological concern of the areas investigated. These results are used as baseline data which can be used for future environmental radiation monitoring programmes in the Najaf Governorate.